As part of the U.S. Navy’s process to retire its Ticonderoga-class cruisers, the USS Cowpens was recently decommissioned on August 27, after 33 years of service. The ceremony took place at Naval Base San Diego and was attended by hundreds of current crew members and former personnel who had served aboard the ship over the past three decades.
During the decommissioning ceremony, Commander Jac O. Ullman III stated, “…One guiding principle in this final chapter aboard has been to honor the legacy of the Cowpens… Honor the courage, determination, and ingenuity of the Continental Army and the militia from that cold battlefield. Honor the service of those who were on the first USS Cowpens, CVL 25, and honor the legacy of those who served before us during the 33-year career of the Mighty Moo… We have done exactly that…”
The Cowpens is one of the last thirteen Ticonderoga-class ships that the U.S. Navy plans to decommission in the coming years, marking the end of the operational life for these units, which were among the first in the fleet to operate the AEGIS combat management system.
According to the U.S. Navy, the schedule for the remaining retirements is as follows: the USS Vicksburg (CG 69) was decommissioned at the end of June this year; the USS Cowpens (CG 63) followed recently. Before the end of the year, the USS Antietam (CG 54) and the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) will be retired in September. The USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Shiloh (CG 67), and USS Lake Erie (CG 70) are projected for retirement in 2025. The USS Princeton (CG 59), USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), and USS Gettysburg (CG 64) are scheduled for retirement in 2026. The last two ships, the USS Chosin (CG 65) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71), will be decommissioned in 2027, completing the planned process for the Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
According to the U.S. Navy, the USS Cowpens participated in many operations and exercises, “…contributing significantly to naval power projection and U.S. security. From enforcing no-fly zones to conducting maritime security operations, the ship demonstrated versatility and capability in a variety of mission profiles…”
“…One of the notable milestones in the Cowpens’ history was its involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom. Tasked with providing air defense and maritime security, the ship played a vital role in the early stages of the global war on terrorism, showcasing the Navy’s ability to rapidly respond to emerging threats…”, the U.S. Navy stated in its release.
“…Since 1983, these ships have defended our nation’s interests, supported critical combat operations, and ensured freedom of the seas… More than that, they brought AEGIS and VLS, revolutionary technologies, into the hands of our combatants…”, said Rear Admiral Ted LeClair, Deputy Commander of the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
“The USS Cowpens, the seventeenth AEGIS ship built, demonstrated the value of these advancements. As AEGIS and VLS evolved in both cruiser and destroyer variants, Cowpens continuously proved its effectiveness and lethality.”
Once decommissioning and inactivation are complete, the USS Cowpens will be towed to the Inactive Ship Facility at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where it will be maintained in a condition of Active Service Logistics (LSA).
Cover image: US Navy – Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul Kelly
You may also like: The U.S. Navy commissions the third-to-last of its problematic Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships
The Continued Disarmament Of All U.S. Defensive/Offensive Capabilities, Even Of The Only “Constitutional Standing U.S. Military Force!”
Our Great Grand Children Are Not Going To See This As Smart.